Franklin graduate Lane taking over school’s girls track and field team starting next season

Like his predecessor, Ray Lane remembers what it’s like to be an athlete at Franklin Community High School.

A former cross-country and track participant for the Grizzly Cubs, Lane has been named the girls track and field coach effective the 2017-18 school year.

Lane succeeds Tim Leonard, a 1976 Franklin graduate, who is retiring from coaching and teaching in early June.

This is Leonard’s 30th season as girls track coach.

“I’m really excited for the opportunity,” said Lane, 34. “You hope something like this opens up, but you never know.”

After high school, Lane competed in cross-country and track at Hanover College. He moved back to his hometown in 2004 and served as assistant girls cross-country coach through 2011.

Lane became the girls head cross-country coach the following season and has coached the distance runners for girls track the past 12 seasons.

A teacher at Franklin Middle School since 2008, Lane will be joining the social studies department at the high school effective the 2017-18 school year.

The promotion of Lane assures continuity within the girls track program. Grizzly Cub athletes know Lane and his coaching style.

“Working with coach Leonard for so long, I’ve learned a lot,” Lane said. “Students, if you yell and scream, will tune you out. We try to stay positive and focused on working hard and individual improvement.”

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THE LANE FILE

Name: Ray Lane

Age: 34

Born: Franklin

Family: Wife, Lyndsey; daughter, Summer, 2

High school: Franklin (2000)

College: Hanover College (2004)

Major: History

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